Arsenal’s thrashing at Liverpool a wake-up call, admits Per Mertesacker

Per Mertesacker urges Arsenal to respond to their humiliating defeat by Liverpool with victory over Manchester United

Per Mertesacker joined Arsenal from Werder Bremen in 2011 Photo: Per Mertesacker/Facebook

Per Mertesacker has urged Arsenal to respond quickly to their “worst setback” of the season following their 5-1 drubbing at Liverpool on Saturday.

The Gunners were torn apart by a rampant Reds display as Arsene Wenger’s side dropped to second in the Premier League table.

I think the team will give something back in the next couple of weeks

Per Mertesacker

And Mertesacker is determined to help the north Londoners respond to the defeat by securing a positive result against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

“To be honest, it’s one of the worst setbacks of this season,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. “We feel very bad at the moment, disappointed with our performance right from the start.

“It was just not good enough to compete at that level. Liverpool seemed full of confidence. At the start we were eight points clear of Liverpool so we should have been more confident and more aware of the situation but that wasn’t the case.

“We have the opportunity to respond quickly on Wednesday and we have to remind ourselves what we have done from Man City until now. That is at stake and to show that responsibility for ourselves and for the pride of our club.

“We have huge games coming up but we can rely on our fans that they will push us again. I think the team will give something back in the next couple of weeks.”